PL - 330.3 - Bone Marrow Aspiration and Thephine Biopsy

Bone marrow aspiration
and trephine biopsy

Information for patients
This information leaflet explains what happens when you have a bone
marrow test. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak
to the doctor or nurse looking after you.
Confirming your identity

Before you have a treatment or procedure, our staff will ask you your
name and date of birth and check your ID band. If you don’t have
an ID band we will also ask you to confirm your address.
If we don’t ask these questions, then please ask us to check.
Ensuring your safety is our primary concern.
www.kch.nhs.uk
What is a bone marrow biopsy?
It is a procedure to remove a small sample (biopsy) of bone marrow
so we can examine it. Bone marrow is the soft part inside your bone
which makes your blood cells.
We take one or more samples including:

• bone marrow aspirate – this is where we take a small sample of
fluid – a few tablespoons’ worth – from inside your hipbone (pelvis)
• bone marrow trephine – this is where we take a small sample
(core) of your bone marrow using a hollow needle.
Why do I need this test?

You may need a bone marrow test because:
• we have found a problem with your blood count. By looking
closely at your bone marrow we may be able to find out why your
blood is not normal.
• if you are already receiving treatment for a blood disorder, we can
tell by looking at your bone marrow how well you are responding.
What are the benefits?

It helps us to:
• make a diagnosis and start you on the right treatment
• find out how well you are responding to treatment.
What are the risks?

Bone marrow tests are low risk. But there are a few risks of having
the test.
You may have some bleeding in the area where the needle is put in.
This usually stops when pressure is put on the site.
You may develop an infection. This is rare. If you develop a high

temperature, pain, swelling or redness in the area of your test,
2
please tell the doctor in the outpatient department.
It is normal to have some discomfort or pain after the bone marrow

test. You can usually ease this by taking paracetamol. But, in a few
cases the pain may be more severe and last for a few days. You may
need to take stronger painkillers.
You can reduce bleeding and discomfort by avoiding

strenuous activity or exercise for 24 hours after your biopsy.
Are there any alternatives?

No. The only way to diagnose a problem in your blood is by looking
at where it is made – in your bone marrow.
Do I need to prepare for the test?

Please let your doctor know if you are taking warfarin, Apixaban,
Dabigratran, Rivaroxaban or any other medicines that thin your
blood, such as heparin or clexane, as soon as possible.
You may need to stop taking these medicines before you have the
biopsy. This is to prevent any extra bleeding during or after the test.
Your doctor will advise you when and for how long you need to
stop taking them.
If this is your first bone marrow biopsy, we recommend that you try
to have it with a local anaesthetic. This means that the area from
where we take the sample is numbed but you will be awake during
the test. You do not need to prepare for a local anaesthetic.
If you find bone marrow biopsies uncomfortable, you can have gas and
air (Entonox). This will help you relax but it will not send you to sleep.
If you find the test very difficult to tolerate, we may give you a
3
sedative drug called midazolam. You have it through a small tube
(cannula) that we put into a vein in your arm. Midazolam will make
you drowsy but you will not fall asleep. Its main effect is to make
you forget the procedure.
Some patients cannot have midazolam sedation. For example, you

cannot have it if you have a severe respiratory disorder or you are
pregnant.
You need to prepare for midazolam sedation:

• do not eat or drink anything (except still/non-fizzy water) for six
hours before the biopsy
• arrange for a responsible adult to collect you and take you home
by taxi or car. You must not drive or use public transport straight
after the test because you will be drowsy.
You must stay in the department for about three hours after
sedation and for at least one hour after you have fully woken up.
This is to make sure you are fully recovered.
Consent
We must by law obtain your written consent to any operation and
some other procedures beforehand. Staff will explain all the risks,
benefits and alternatives before they ask you to sign a consent
form. If you are unsure about any aspect of the treatment proposed,
please do not hesitate to speak with a senior member of staff again.
Research
We may ask you if we can take samples for research. These may be
used in a clinical trial which we will have discussed with you before
your test, or they may be stored in a tissue bank for use in research
at a later date. We will ask you to sign separate consent forms if
you agree.
4
What happens during the procedure?
One of our haematology (blood) doctors or nurses will carry out
your bone marrow test in a separate room in the haematology
outpatient department (HOPD).
You will be asked to loosen your trousers or skirt and pull the
waistband of your underwear to about half way down your
buttocks. You do not have to take off your underwear or fully
expose your bottom or genitals.
You will then be asked to lay on

a bed on your side with your legs
and knees tucked up into your
chest. Please tell the doctor or
nurse if you find this difficult.
Once you are in the right position, they will clean the area above
your buttock with some antiseptic fluid that may feel cold.
They will inject some local anaesthetic (the same as your dentist
uses) into the skin to numb the area. This may sting for a few
minutes until you lose feeling.
They will inject some more anaesthetic deeper around the bone area.
Once the area is completely numb, they will put a needle into
your bone and take a small amount of fluid. You may find this
uncomfortable and you may also feel a strange sensation in your
legs, but this should quickly go away.
They then put a slightly larger needle to take a small piece of

bone marrow. You may feel some pushing and pressure. You may
also feel a sharp sensation while they take the sample and take
5
out the needle. Please tell the doctor or nurse if you feel very
uncomfortable.
Once they have finished they will put a sterile dressing over the area.
How long will it take?

The whole test takes about 15 – 20 minutes. You should expect
to be in hospital for about an hour if you are only having a local
anaesthetic. If you are having a sedative as well, you may be here for
three – four hours because you need time to recover.
What happens after the procedure?

If you have had a local anaesthetic, you will need to stay in the
HOPD for 15-20 minutes after the test to make sure that you feel
well enough to go home.
If you have had a sedative as well, you will need to stay in the HOPD
for up to three hours to make sure you feel well enough to go home.
Once you are home and the local anaesthetic has worn off you may
feel some discomfort in your back. You can take painkillers such as
paracetamol to ease this.
Is there anything else I should do?

You must keep the dressing on for 24 hours and keep it clean and
dry, so do not have a bath or shower during that time. After 24
hours, remove the dressing and have a bath or shower. Do not leave
a wet dressing on.
It is normal to have some bruising, pain and swelling. But if you

have a high temperature or redness, bleeding, a lot of swelling or
you just feel generally unwell, tell the medical staff in the HOPD as
soon as possible.
6
What happens to the bone marrow sample and
when do I get my results?
We send the bone marrow sample to a laboratory to be looked at
under a microscope. A number of tests are done on the cells. We
may also store and use samples for testing and research (see page 5).
Your results can take up to 2 weeks to come back. Your doctor will
discuss them with you at your next clinic appointment. A doctor
may contact you if it is urgent.
Who can I contact with queries and concerns?

While you are at King’s having your test, please talk to a member
of the medical or nursing staff in the HOPD.
Before or after your test, please phone the department on:

Tel 020 3299 2963
Sharing your information

We have teamed up with Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals in a
partnership known as King’s Health Partners Academic Health
Sciences Centre. We are working together to give our patients the
best possible care, so you might find we invite you for appointments
at Guy’s or St Thomas’. To make sure everyone you meet always has
the most up-to-date information about your health, we may share
information about you between the hospitals.
Care provided by students

We provide clinical training where our students get practical
experience by treating patients. Please tell your doctor or nurse
if you do not want students to be involved in your care. Your
treatment will not be affected by your decision.
7
PALS
The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is a service that offers
support, information and assistance to patients, relatives and visitors.
They can also provide help and advice if you have a concern or complaint
that staff have not been able to resolve for you. The PALS office is
located on the ground floor of the Hambleden Wing, near the main
entrance on Bessemer Road - staff will be happy to direct you.
PALS at King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS

Tel: 020 3299 3601
Email: kch-tr.PALS@nhs.net
You can also contact us by using our online form at

www.kch.nhs.uk/contact/pals
More information
Macmillan Information and Support Centre
The Macmillan drop-in centre at King’s offers help and support to
patients, carers, relatives and friends. Tel: 020 3299 5229
Cancer Research UK.

This charity has more information about cancer and its care.
www.cancerresearchuk.org
If you would like the information in this leaflet in a different

language or format, please contact PALS on 020 3299 1844.
PL330.3 August 2017 Networked Care

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Bone marrow aspiration

and trephine biopsy

Confirming your identity

We take one or more samples including:

Why do I need this test?

What are the benefits?

What are the risks?

You may develop an infection. This is rare. If you develop a high

It is normal to have some discomfort or pain after the bone marrow

You can reduce bleeding and discomfort by avoiding

Are there any alternatives?

Do I need to prepare for the test?

Some patients cannot have midazolam sedation. For example, you

You need to prepare for midazolam sedation:

You will then be asked to lay on

They then put a slightly larger needle to take a small piece of

How long will it take?

What happens after the procedure?

Is there anything else I should do?

It is normal to have some bruising, pain and swelling. But if you

Who can I contact with queries and concerns?

Before or after your test, please phone the department on:

Sharing your information

Care provided by students

PALS at King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS

You can also contact us by using our online form at

Cancer Research UK.

If you would like the information in this leaflet in a different

PL330.3 August 2017 Networked Care

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